UK ETA Fee Increase to £20 in 2026 — Complete Guide for All Nationalities

UK ETA Fee Increase: What International Travelers Need to Know

 

Key fact: The UK ETA costs £20 per application, is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, and allows unlimited visits of up to 6 months each. Citizens from 48 eligible countries must obtain an ETA before travelling (Source: GOV.UK).

 

Starting 25 February 2026, the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee increases from £20 to £20 per applicant. This 25% price rise affects all 85 ETA-eligible nationalities, including travelers to the United Kingdom. Additionally, eligible nationals need an ETA since April 2025.

 

Key Facts: UK ETA Price Change 2026

 

Detail	Information
Previous ETA fee	£20 per person
New ETA fee (from 25 Feb 2026)	£20 per person
Fee increase	25% (£4 more per applicant)
Validity	2 years or until passport expires
Entries allowed	Multiple entries, up to 6 months per visit
Applies to all ETA-eligible nationalities	Yes — ETA mandatory from 25 Feb 2026

 

Additionally, as a citizen of an ETA-eligible country, you are required to obtain a UK ETA before traveling to the United Kingdom from 25 February 2026 onwards. Furthermore, without an approved ETA, you will not be able to board your flight, train, or ferry to the UK. Learn more about UK ETA full enforcement rules.

 

Why Is the UK ETA Fee Increasing?

 

 

According to the UK Home Office, the fee increase from £20 to £20 is designed to keep the ETA scheme “self-funding” without drawing on general taxation. Moreover, the additional revenue covers the costs of biometric vetting, carrier connectivity systems, and the ongoing development of the UK’s digital border infrastructure.

 

For a detailed breakdown of the fee change, see our full guide: UK ETA Fee Increase 2026: Complete Analysis.

 

How to Apply for a UK ETA

 

 

Furthermore, the application process for international travelers is straightforward:

 

1. Download the UK ETA app — Available on iOS and Android
2. Scan your passport — Using your phone’s camera via the app
3. Take a facial photo — Must meet UK ETA photo requirements
4. Pay the £20 fee — By debit or credit card
5. Receive your decision — Usually within minutes, up to 3 working days

 

For the complete step-by-step process, read our guide: How to Apply for UK ETA Online 2026.

 

What Happens If Your UK ETA Is Refused?

 

 

Moreover, if your ETA application is refused, you will receive an email explaining the reason. In addition, common reasons for refusal include criminal history, immigration violations, or errors in the application. Read our comprehensive guide on what to do if your UK ETA is refused.

 

Official Sources & References

This guide is based on official UK government sources. All information is current as of 2026.

1. UK Government — Apply for an ETA
2. UK Government — ETA Guidance
3. UK Government — Check If You Need a UK Visa
4. UK Government — Standard Visitor
5. VisitBritain — Getting to Britain

Frequently Asked Questions: UK ETA Fee Increase 2026

 

 

How much does the UK ETA cost for international travelers in 2026?

 

The UK ETA costs £20 per person from 25 February 2026 onwards. This applies to all applicants, including children. Therefore, the previous fee was £20.

 

Can I travel to the UK without an ETA to the United Kingdom?

 

No. As a result, from 25 February 2026, all eligible nationals must have an approved ETA before traveling to the UK. Without one, you will be denied boarding. Learn more about traveling to the UK without an ETA.

 

How long is the UK ETA valid?

 

In addition, the UK ETA is valid for 2 years from the date of issue, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. For this reason, it allows multiple entries for stays of up to 6 months each.

 

Do children to the United Kingdom need a UK ETA?

 

Yes. In particular, every traveler, including infants and children, needs their own ETA. Each child requires a separate application and a £20 fee.

 

Related guides: Who Needs an ETA for the UK? | UK ETA Grace Period Ending | Top UK Tourist Attractions

 

More UK ETA Guides

 

• UK ETA Requirements 2026: Complete Checklist
• Travel Guides 2026: ETA, Entry Rules & Tips

UK ETA Fee Increase 2026: What You Need to Know

Therefore, the UK government announced an increase to the UK ETA fee in 2026 as part of broader changes to the UK immigration fees schedule. Specifically, the fee increase reflects the UK government’s policy of ensuring that immigration and border control systems are funded by those who use them rather than the general taxpayer. The specific new fee — expected to rise to between £20 and £20 — brings the UK ETA more in line with comparable systems such as the US ESTA ($21 USD) while remaining far below the cost of a traditional UK Standard Visitor Visa (£115).

How the Fee Increase Affects Different Travellers

Traveller Type	Old Fee (£20)	New Fee (~£20)	Annual Impact (4 trips)
Solo traveller	£20	~£20	+£40/year
Couple	£20	~£40	+£80/year
Family of 4	£40	~£80	+£160/year

Does the Fee Change Apply to Existing ETAs?

No. For example, the fee change applies only to new applications submitted after the increase takes effect. If you already hold a valid UK ETA that was approved before the fee change, your existing ETA remains valid until its expiry date (2 years from approval or until your passport expires). You do not need to pay any additional amount or reapply. The increased fee only becomes relevant when your current ETA expires and you apply for a new one.

Should You Apply Before the Fee Increases?

Consequently, if you are planning to visit the UK within the next two years and have not yet applied for an ETA, applying before the fee increase takes effect would save you money. Similarly, a £20 ETA applied for now covers all UK visits for the next 2 years — effectively securing 2 years of multi-entry UK access at the lower rate. Monitor the official gov.uk/eta page for announcements about the exact implementation date of the new fee schedule.

Avoiding Overpriced Third-Party Services

Regardless of the official fee level, always apply through the official gov.uk portal or UK ETA app. In fact, with the fee now higher, the gap between official applications and third-party services charging inflated prices is even more important to understand. Some third-party websites charge £50–£100 for the same ETA that you can get through the official portal for £20–£20. There is no advantage to using unofficial services — they provide no faster processing, no additional guarantees, and no customer support beyond what the official system offers.

Impact on Tourism and Business Travel to the UK

As a result, the UK government’s own impact assessment acknowledged that higher ETA fees may marginally discourage some discretionary travel to the UK — particularly among budget-conscious travellers and large families for whom the per-person fee structure makes the total cost significant. However, at £20–£20, the UK ETA remains far cheaper than a UK Standard Visitor Visa (£115) and competitive with the US ESTA ($21). Above all, the UK tourism industry lobbied for a lower fee, arguing that post-Brexit travel is already more complicated for many visitors — but the government prioritised immigration system self-funding over fee minimisation.

How to Pay the Updated ETA Fee

The payment process remains unchanged regardless of fee level. Consequently, all major credit and debit cards are accepted, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted via the UK ETA mobile app. The fee is charged in British Pound Sterling (GBP) — non-GBP cardholders will see the equivalent amount charged at the prevailing exchange rate on the day of application. No cash payments are accepted, and the fee cannot be split across multiple payment methods.

Will There Be Further Fee Increases?

For this reason, the UK government reviews immigration fees annually as part of the Home Office budget process. Besides this, further increases beyond the 2026 level are possible in future years. The best protection against future fee increases is to apply now — your current ETA is valid for 2 years from approval, so applying before further increases locks in the current fee for two more years of UK travel. Monitor gov.uk/eta for official announcements about fee schedules.

Budgeting for UK ETA Fees: Families and Frequent Travellers

For families visiting the UK, ETA fees represent an additional upfront travel cost that was not required before the system launched. Meanwhile, a family of four at the new £20–£20 rate pays £64–£80 in ETA fees alone — on top of flights, accommodation, and spending money. Budget-conscious families should factor ETA fees into their overall trip budget and apply early to avoid last-minute stress. The 2-year validity softens the impact for families that visit the UK more than once in a two-year window.

Frequent business travellers are perhaps the least affected by the fee increase in relative terms: a single ETA covering 10 or 20 UK business trips over two years amounts to pennies per trip. Additionally, the real impact is on occasional leisure travellers — those who might visit the UK once every few years — for whom the fee feels less justified against a single short trip. The UK government’s position is that the fee remains modest compared to traditional visa costs and comparable to travel authorisation fees charged by other countries.

Summary: UK ETA Fee Increase in 2026

The UK ETA fee increase to approximately £20–£20 is a real but modest cost increase for travellers. Furthermore, the key facts remain: apply through the official gov.uk portal only, pay per person, check the current fee before applying, and remember that your approved ETA covers all UK visits for two years. At any fee level, the UK ETA is the most cost-effective route to the UK for eligible nationals — far cheaper than a Standard Visitor Visa and requiring no embassy appointment or biometric submission.